The Ridgalite

The Rigalite focuses on the People who lived in Marina Avenue in the Ridges Estate in North Shields. Eddie Saint owns the Roaring venture a trawler moored at the fish quay- his crew work hard and play hard - one of them is Ron Lee a young lad who has aspirations of becoming a rock star. He was in the Royal Navy on board the HMS Illustrious as a trained chef before joining the trawler boat. The lads all tell him that his songs are crap because they don't wan't to lose a good cook. The story also tells of two rival shop keepers- Ronnie Hancock and Billy Burston have been each others throats for years- read the comic antics of both men. "The Ridgalite is an insite of life in the early sixties on an an estate with high unemployment and little hope - where every day is a constant struggle. There are some though who prove that if you have hope then dreams can come true.

83. 83

“Yes, Ron has promised to show me the abbey and the castle at Tynemouth. Don’t forget Lord Collingwood’s monument further along he and Lord Horiatio Nelson beat the French at the battle of Trafalgar.

“I just love English history you know.’

“Well the North East is steeped in it; you will have to get Ron to show you around.’

“Yes, I will do that.’

“I will take plenty of photographs to show my family when we get back.

“How long are you panning on staying?’

“I don’t know really; I hope long enough to see everything.’

Sally walked to the back of the house to see the garden which was relatively small in comparison to their garden back home. It was being looked after by Molly’s husband John; who came to dead head the flowers and cut the lawn. The fruit had been collected and made into jams and bottled in syrup.

“She went up stairs to get ready to go out as Molly left.

Eddie and the rest of the crew met at the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth where the restaurant had been booked by Ron for them all. There was a free bar so the lads made the most of it ordering double whiskey’s with ice.

Ron turned up with Sally in a Hackney cab which Sally adored.’

He had made an effort and was wearing a smart blue jacket with cut into the waist with a tapered collar, his shirt was white, and he wore no tie, the black flared trousers, and black boots made him look like a rock star especially his black hair that was shoulder length cut into a sixties modern style. Sally looked magnificent in a blue velvet dress, cut low at the front; it had a split up the side to show off her tanned long legs.

“Everyone of the crew had there mouths gaped open as she strode into the restaurant.

Ron came over with Sally to the bar and introduced his wife to them all.

Pleased to meet you all fellas she smiled.’

“And we you Sally said Eddie as he took her hand and kissed it as she was royalty.’

Come on guys let’s sit down.

The waiter’s came and opened the wine that Ron had ordered to go with the meal they were having. They had a choice of melon balls or prawn cocktails. They all plumbed for the prawns. That was followed by sirloin steak done with stilton cheese; new baby roasted potatoes; julienne carrots, French beans, and roasted parsnip.

Ron asked them how the fishing was going.’

“Just the same said Eddie, but Dougie has his own boat now. It’s a sixty footer called “The Christian” He doing really well on his own.’

“Great, where are your crew then Dougie asked Ron?’

“Well I thought that you had only invited crew members from the Roaring Venture so I didn’t ask.’